CHANDEL, June 27: Several job card holders numbering about a thousand responded to the call of the protest rally against implementation of 25% of the MGNREGS funds by the ADC members of the Naga Chiefs Association Chandel (NCAC) today by coming out to participate in the rally.
The rally was preceded by a public meeting at the Mini Indoor Stadium.
CNPO general secretary Bd Betha, Naga Women Union Chandel general secretary L Bliss and chairman of the All Tribal Chiefs’ and Public Grievances Forum, Chandel District Lumdil spoke during the meeting.
The speakers in their speech strongly condemned and opposed the Governor’s Order dated November 5, 2012 which stated that 25% of the MGNREGA funds shall be earmarked for proposal and implementation of MGNREGA works by Zila Parishads/Autonomous District Councils.
ADC members are totally fake and they are no longer a mandate of the Chandel people, BD Betha claimed.
They have been socially boycotted and CNPO will continue to do so, he continued.
Sng Lumdil said, “If the ADC members are stationed at the district head quarter we will have no objection if 50% of the MGNREGS is allotted or deducted”. Pointing out various difficulties the chief will face when the ADC members function from Imphal, he went on to say that devolution of power to them will be a great stumbling block on the path of development.
Soon after the meeting, job card holders irrespective of age and sex raising placards and festoons inscribe on them, “ADC members does not represent the mandate of Chandel”, “ADC members are socially boycotted by the general Naga people” took out the way from the Indoor Stadium to the office of Deputy Commissioner Chandel for submitting memorandum to the Chief Minister of Manipur. As the rally progress, protestors shouted slogan to show off their disapproval of deducting 25% of the MGNREGS by the ADC members.
The memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister of Manipur through the Deputy Commissioner Chandel Th Chittaranjan Singh IAS pointed that the Naga Chief Association and the Job Card holders of Chandel district are totally against the implementation of MGNREGA works by Autonomous District Council members. It also pointed out that the NCAC had already submitted the same kind of memorandum registering protest against the Government’s move in this regard with a humble request from the government to give response within 10 days of submitting the memorandum. However, the govt had failed in this regard. The memorandum submitted today also warned that the NCAC will intensify its future course of democratic form of agitation if the Govt. continues to remain a silent spectator rather than to give a positive responds to the demand made.
Hundreds of Chiefs, and Various Civil Society leaders including the CNPO President Gabriel Chinir also attended the rally. At the same time, the same type of rally was also carried out at the Chakpikarong sub-divisional head quarter under the aegis of the Anal Naga Chiefs Association Chakpikarong.